Group 1 Caulfield Cup final field and barrier draw: Tony and Calvin McEvoy confident with favourite Half Yours

Bookies had Half Yours as the clear $2.60 top pick in Caulfield Cup betting before Wednesday’s barrier draw but the gelding could start shorter after drawing the prime barrier.

Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy said the draw would enable jockey Jamie Melham to employ any number of plans depending on the early pressure of the Caulfield Cup.

McEvoy, who trains Half Yours in partnership with his father Tony, said the gelding would be able to relax and conserve something for the final quarter of the rich contest.

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“Drawn two, I would think that he would gate a restful run for the first half of the race,” McEvoy said.

“He won’t be too far away and will be saving his energy for the last 600(m).

“He’s got a great quality that you could basically do with him what you want.

“We feel like we’ve got the right horse but he’s got to turn up on the day.

“It’s a horse race but we’re happy, the horse is great and we’re really excited.”

Half Yours caught the eye with his strong fourth in the Turnbull Stakes, a proven Caulfield Cup form reference, beating home several of his Cup rivals in the Flemington race.

Deakin, who finished sixth in the Turnbull Stakes, drew well in barrier seven for the Caulfield Cup while Adelaide River (seventh), drew barrier nine.

Leading Melbourne trainer Ciaron Maher has three chances to win back-to-back Caulfield Cups after saluting with Duke Of Sessa last year.

His highest-rated hope, Middle Earth, has barrier three and the services of dual Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra, while the import’s stablemates Royal Supremacy and Zardozi have barriers six and 11 respectively.

Irish-trained galloper Absurde drew barrier one but needs to overcome an 84-year hoodoo if he is to give trainer Willie Mullins a maiden Caulfield Cup triumph.

Velocity was the last Caulfield Cup winner from barrier one in 1941.

Gai Waterhouse will attempt to win her first Caulfield Cup since Descarado won in wet conditions 15 years ago when Vauban steps out on Saturday.

Vauban competed in the last two Melbourne Cups for Mullins before local syndicators Australian Bloodstock bought the chestnut stayer last year.

Vauban has been solid in three runs for Waterhouse and her trainer Adrian Bott, including when finishing 1¼ lengths from the winner Royal Supremacy in the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick.

Vauban will start the Caulfield Cup from barrier 13.

Waterhouse said the draw would not impact the gelding’s chances of his first Australian win.

“It doesn’t mean much except we can win it,” Waterhouse said.

“We’re out of harm’s way and it means we’ve got to do a few more metres, which will suit Vauban.

“He’s thriving, he’s done very well since (the Metropolitan), he’s really acclimatised to Melbourne.”

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UK raider gets barrier wish

Caulfield Cup second favourite Meydaan fared best in the barrier draw of the international quartet set for the $5m spring major.

UK raider Meydaan, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, has gate five on Saturday, successful on six occasions previously including Duke De Sessa last year, Doriemus (1995) and Paris Lane (1994).

Paul Holley, representative for the father-son Crisford combination, said the yard wished for gate five to 10.

Meydaan enjoyed a reconnaissance gallop at Caulfield last Tuesday.

“He’s taken everything well, turned up here (Tuesday) morning walked around the paddock like he’d been here 100 times” Holley said.

“Took everything in his stride, handled the track, I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Absurde enjoyed no luck of the Irish or seasoned Australian campaigner, placed seventh and fifth in the past two Melbourne Cups respectively, for his first crack at the Caulfield Cup.

The Willie Mullins-trained stayer has an 81-year drought to break on Saturday, with Velocity (1941) the last to win the Caulfield Cup from barrier one.

Travelling foreman David Casey told Mullins shortly after the draw.

“He thought it was good, then he looked up the stats and he said, ‘1941 was the last one’,” Casey said.

“It’s been 84 years but he said ‘it is what it is, we’ll just have to deal with it’.

“He has enough pace to travel away and get a position but he’s going to need luck from there.

“We’ll go through the race and speak to Ben (Allen) to see what he thinks. He’s come from behind and he’s come from handy so we’ll work out a plan.”

Barrier one is perilous in the 300m charge from the start to the first turn at Caulfield with pressure on jockeys drawn wide to find a position.

Presage Nocturne (France) and Golden Snap (Japan) drew barriers eight and 12 in the Caulfield Cup.

Illaria Botti, wife of trainer Alessandro, said Presage Nocturne has settled nicely into Melbourne.

“He’s very good, he’s relaxed,” Botti said.

“Closer to the race he becomes a little more nervous, active, everything is good.

“He’s quite an easy horse, not complicated, easy to travel.”

Golden Snap connections were unfazed by barrier 12, however, the Japanese stayer must run top eight on Saturday to pass the ballot and be eligible for the Melbourne Cup on November 4.

Five internationals have won the Caulfield Cup since Taufan’s Melody (1998), including All The Good (2008), Dunaden (2012), Admire Rakti (2014), Best Solution (2018) and Mer De Glace (2019).

- additonal reporting by Gilbert Gardiner

The Caulfield track was rated a Good 4 at acceptance time. The rail will be in the 3m position on Saturday.

The Bureau Of Meteorology forecast for Melbourne is:

Wednesday – Mostly sunny. 24.

Thursday – Partly cloudy (70% chance of 0-3mm of rain). 31.

Friday – Partly cloudy. 19.

Saturday – Mostly sunny. 20.

CLICK HERE to get the fields and formguide for Caulfield meeting on Saturday.

Originally published as Group 1 Caulfield Cup final field and barrier draw: Tony and Calvin McEvoy confident with favourite Half Yours